An inspection system having a light source able to illuminate a transparent cylinder, a mask able to block at least part of the light from the light source, the light source and the mask arranged such that, when the transparent cylinder is positioned in the system for inspection, the light source, the mask and the transparent cylinder are substantially aligned along an inspection axis perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of said transparent cylinder and the mask is interposed between the light source and the transparent cylinder to prevent illumination of a first portion of the transparent cylinder having a width smaller than the diameter of the transparent cylinder while allowing illumination of a second portion of the transparent cylinder, the mask configured to provide a contrast with a particle present in the first portion of the cylinder and illuminated by light refracted by the second portion of the cylinder.

An inspection device has a particle detector adapted to detect particles in a liquid, a seat adapted to position a container housing the liquid in an area of operation of the particle detector and a vibration arrangement for vibrating the container. The vibration arrangement includes a frequency generator adapted to provide an electrical signal and a transducer adapted to transduce the electrical signal provided by the frequency generator into an acoustic wave. The seat is adapted to position the container adjacent to the transducer. for inspecting a liquid inside a container with respect to the existence of particles. The inspection device allows for an accurate and gentle inspection of the liquid filled in the container and for detecting particles in the liquid.

An appearance inspection device includes: a conveyance body having a surface and a rear face and conveyed in a predetermined direction; an illumination device that irradiates with predetermined light an inspection area through which a plurality of objects pass, wherein the objects are arranged at predetermined intervals on a first face that is one of the surface and the rear face; a plurality of imaging devices each of which takes, along a predetermined direction, an image of part of side faces of the objects located in the inspection area, wherein the predetermined direction is inclined to both the surface and the rear face; and a processor that inspects an appearance of the side faces of the objects based on image data obtained by the imaging device.

A method and device detect defects in the closure of encapsulated vials. The method includes scanning a profile of the capsule and of the vial using a profilometer, thus obtaining a point cloud. From the point cloud obtained, calculating at least one of the following parameters: diameter or radius of the closure circumference of the capsule; angle of intersection between the lower skirt and the side of the capsule; length of the lower skirt; and/or a distance from the end of the lower skirt to the neck of the vial. The method determines whether any of the parameters calculated in the previous step exceeds a predetermined value. The device detecting defects in the closure of encapsulated vials includes a profilometer configured to scan a profile of the capsule and of the vial and a control device configured to execute the method.

A method of inspecting and performing material identification of a contaminant found in a vial may include identifying the presence of the contaminant in a lyophilized medicine within the vial, detaching a portion of the vial to create an enlarged opening in the vial, removing substantially an entire cake of lyophilized medicine through the enlarged opening, and analyzing the contaminant using an atomic emissions spectroscopy (AES) technique such as laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy (LIBS). Systems, fixtures and devices associated with the method are also disclosed.

An inspection system for detecting a particle in a transparent cylinder having a longitudinal axis and a diameter includes a light source able to illuminate a transparent cylinder, a mask able to block at least part of the light coming from the light source, the light source and the mask being arranged such that, when the transparent cylinder is positioned in the system for inspection, the light source, the mask and the transparent cylinder are substantially aligned along an inspection axis perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of said transparent cylinder and the mask is interposed between the light source and the transparent cylinder so as to prevent illumination of a first portion of the transparent cylinder having a width smaller than the diameter of the transparent cylinder while allowing illumination of a second portion of the transparent cylinder, the mask being configured to provide a contrast with a particle present in the first portion of the transparent cylinder and illuminated by light refracted by the second portion of the transparent cylinder.

An article-inspection apparatus includes a light source for directing light energy with multiple wavelengths at the article and multiple sensors to receive light reflected from external and internal surfaces of the wall of the article, with the reflections being used to compute a physical characteristic, e.g., wall thickness, of the container, due to the light absorption characteristics of the material of the wall of the article. A single light sensitive sensor may be used if the light source wavelengths can be selectively transmitted. The apparatus can be used for inspecting transparent plastic containers that are filled (with a liquid) or unfilled. The apparatus may determine the wall thickness of transparent plastic containers even if they have in-molded features or decorations that make their inner and outer walls non-parallel.

In a method for imaging a container holding a sample, the container is illuminated with a laser sheet of a first color, and one or more images of the container are capturing by a first imager configured to filter out colors other than the first color. Simultaneously with illuminating the container with the laser sheet of the first color, the container is illuminated with light of a second color different than the first color, wherein the light of the second color illuminates at least a majority of an entire volume of the container. One or more additional imagers of the container are captured by a second imager configured to filter out colors other than the second color. The one or more images and the one or more additional images are analyzed to detect particles within, and/or on an exterior surface of, the container.

The automatic inspection machine for containers and contents thereof, comprises a serial horizontal conveyor line of the containers oriented with a vertical axis through at least one inspection station comprising lighting means of the containers, at least one television camera for acquiring images of the illuminated containers, the lighting means comprising a first, a second and at least a third lighting device.

Systems and processes for which containers are placed to detect contamination more effectively than current practices may be provided. This may be done using a combination of imaging techniques. Specifically, one approach combines UV, visible, and IR images to enhance the contrast of contamination in sealed pharmaceutical containers. The images may be further enhanced through the use of a flash of heat. The use of resonance to manipulate the vial contents may be further used. These approaches may be combined with mechanical motion so that the material inside the container is turned over in a way to expose the potential contamination. In some embodiments the orientation of the sealed container may be positioned to maximize the surface area and inspection volume of the material under investigation.